Comments on: Dealing with trademark, copyright and Legal issues

By: Pandamonk

Pandamonk — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:09:26 +0000

Hi, first many thanks for this post, Its very valuable to me since i am thinking about starting to freelance. I still have some questions:

1. Do you put a §paragraph in your contract about trademarks & copyright?
Like you are not responsible for any copyright and trademark issue? If so, how is the paragraph like?

2. How do you avoid the Looks-like-an-other-Logo issue? I design logos all by myself, but ideas are sometimes alike, therefore its hard to avoid similarities. There are millions of Logos out there, how am I supposed to know if someone else had the same idea too? How do you deal with this problem?

Many thanks in advance for your answer.

By: Lisa Raymond

Lisa Raymond — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:57:42 +0000

Great post here, thanks! People do seem to think we can just do it all for this really low price! Between low pricing and legalities, I feel that's where the crowdsourcing places and contest sites have really stuck it to us (and probably not very intentionally). What do you think?

By: ImJustCreative

ImJustCreative — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:50:31 +0000

It's just a minefield, even if you know what you are doing. Just best to frank at the beginning, and work to your strengths.

By: ImJustCreative

ImJustCreative — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:49:30 +0000

It's just important to be upfront at the beginning of a new client relationship, so both parties know where they stand with this sort of thing.

By: Daniel Berumen

Daniel Berumen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:24:24 +0000

Even if one's getting enough for it, make sure you know what your doing.

I hardly offer any help in this area. Usually I only point them in the right direction. Since I live in the U.S. I give them the links to the U.S. patent and trademark office, and copyright office.

One thing I should start doing is like you said, is pointing out that before coming to me they should have done all the registering necessary, like company name, etc.

Good post Graham.

By: Donnie Bell Design

Donnie Bell Design — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:47:29 +0000

I think it's important we remember that we're not lawyers. We're creators and have to protect our work, but it's difficult to know the exact legalities of it all.